Prenex

The prenex is a space at the beginning of a clause where free-floating terms can be listed. This can be used to introduce quantification, or adverbials, or to mark the topic of a sentence.

The presence of a prenex is marked by the particle bı, which separates the prenex terms from the rest of the clause.

The term comes from logic (via Lojban), where the part before the colon in $\exists x\forall y:P(x,y)$ is called the prenex. So, bı functions much like that colon.

The refgram confusingly calls the prenex the topic, which I don't like.

Interpretation of terms

• A quantified nominal phrase, such as sa chaq, introduces a quantification with scope over the whole clause.
• A definite noun phrase, such as ke chaq or cháq, marks a topic. This has no impact on the logical denotation of the rest of the clause, but lets speakers organize their speech or give context clues.
• An adverbial spans over the whole clause with the usual interpretation. See that article for more details.

Examples

Marking the topic of a simple sentence, using a definite noun phrase before bı:

Ní kúe bı bủ chỏ jí bóu.
As for this book: I don't like it.

You can do the same in a subclause: the prenex is between lâ and bı.

Dủa jí lâ Tóaqzu bı zủdeq súq hóq da.
I know that, as for Toaq, you speak it.

An adverbial in the prenex:

Chòe jíachaq bı rủqshua da.
Until tomorrow, it's raining.

Quantification in the prenex, like logical notation $\exists k:P(k)$:

Sa kủe bı shảo jí nôaq súq kúe da.
Some books K: I would like you to read K.
There's some book(s) I would like you to read.

Compare this to if we had not used a prenex:

Shảo jí nôaq sa kủe da.
I want that [for some books K: you read K].
I would like you to read some books. (i.e. I don't care which ones)

External links

• Topic in the reference grammar.